John W. Safford, Sr.

John W. Safford, Sr., 83, of Winterset, passed away Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at the Winterset Care Center North.

A visitation will be held from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, January 23, 2023 at the New Bridge Church in Winterset, where family will greet friends from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 24 at the church with burial to follow in the Winterset Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family for a future designation. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.caldwellparrish.com.

A livestream of the funeral service will be available on the New Bridge Church's YouTube page at, https://www.youtube.com/@newbridgechurchwinterset9681/streams .

John Wesley Safford was born in Waterloo, Nebraska on June 24, 1939, the son of Frank and Naomi (Warren) Safford. He grew up on a farm and graduated as Valedictorian from Waterloo High School in 1956. He later served in the ROTC. John was united in marriage to Nancy Jane Quiring on August 29, 1959 in Mt. Lake, Minnesota. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1962. He also attended the University of Georgia, University of Northern Iowa and Grace Bible Institute in Omaha, Nebraska.

He was a dedicated teacher, devoted pastor and camp manager for many years. His first teaching job was in Wahoo, Nebraska from 1962-1968. He moved to Winterset in 1968 and taught at Winterset Community High School where he facilitated the mock trial program and was a staff development leader. John attended Grace Baptist Church from 1968-2020 and pastored there from 2008-2020. He attended New Bridge Church from 2020-2023.

He loved sports and loved watching anything his grandchildren did. He enjoyed watching any Nebraska sports, Cardinals baseball, and Chiefs football. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially with his family. John was a creative person who painted, built things, wrote poems and plays, loved puns and jokes, and his grandkids will remember him for his imagination and stories. John will be missed as a pastor, teacher, writer, Dad, and Papa but above all else, he will be remembered as someone who LOVED Jesus and wanted others to know and love him too.

John is survived by his children, Geoff and Debbie Safford of North Platte, NE, Jodi and Gary Wabshaw of Winterset, John and Becky Safford of Des Moines, and Jay and Joan Safford of Winterset; a brother, Frank Safford of Omaha, NE; 16 grandchildren, Geoff, Jr., Hannah, Trent, Naomi, Lucas, Lacey, Colson, Eli, Judson, Wesley, Brandon, Jarod, Ethan, Levi, Madaline, and Titus; and 5 great-grandchildren, Isla, Jaxon, Liam, Jojo, and Beckett.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Naomi (Warren) Safford; his wife, Nancy (Quiring) Safford; brothers, Charles Safford, Warren Safford, and Robert Safford; sisters, Francis Safford Fast, and Lois Safford Harriger; and granddaughter, Gracie Ann Wabshaw.